The Story of Two Dogs

I pray you will be challenged by this story from Dr Bill Bright!

The Story Of Two dogs

 You have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you (Colossians 3:9-10). 

 Dear friends:

A Native-American Christian went to a missionary for counsel.  He was very much troubled by the spiritual conflict going on within his heart.  He wanted to do what God wanted him to do, but he was frequently disobeying God.  He found that he was prone to do evil things, even as he did before he became a Christian.

 The native described this conflict within himself as a dogfight.  He said to the missionary, "It is as though I have a black dog and a white dog inside me fighting each other constantly."  The black dog, he explained, represented evil and the white dog represented good.

The missionary asked him, "Which dog wins the fight within you?" 

After several moments of silence, the native said, "The dog that wins is the one I feed and the dog that loses is the one I starve."

A person can either feed or starve the carnal nature or the spiritual nature.  One will win and one will lose.  Man has a free will; he is a free moral agent.  As such, he can decide, even as a Spirit-filled Christian, whether he will obey the dictate of the flesh or the leading of the Spirit.  Whether he lives a consistent, Spirit-filled life is determined by the frequency with which he says "yes" to the leading of the Spirit and "no" to the temptations of the flesh.

For the Christian, the old sin nature, if not properly dealt with, can become a major hindrance to living supernaturally.  A Christian who, for any variety of reasons, does not properly deal with his old sin nature is said to be living in a state of carnality, or worldliness.

Such a carnal Christian is usually a miserable person -- even more miserable than the nonbeliever.

Some or all of the following traits may characterize the carnal Christian: ignorance of spiritual heritage, unbelief, disobedience, loss of love for God and for others, poor prayer life, no desire for Bible study, legalistic attitude, impure thoughts, jealousy, guilt, worry, discouragement, critical spirit, frustration, and aimlessness.

The way to overcome these carnal traits is to be filled -- continually controlled by -- the Holy Spirit. 

We are filled by the Holy Spirit by faith, based on His command, recorded in Ephesians 5:18, and His promise, recorded in 1 John 5:14, 15. 

Yours for fulfilling the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,

Bill Bright

The late Dr. Bill Bright was Founder and President/Chairman Emeritus of Campus Crusade for Christ

Lord, Help!!

"He takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change" (Romans 2:4).

Hey Gang:  How many times this week have you asked yourself the question,  "Should I or should I not?"  I don't know about you, but I have learned from coming alongside others who are struggling that we like our comfort zone and change can be very intimidating.  The question is really - will we feed the white dog or the black dog this day?

I have learned in my tenure on this earth that change is just plain hard and making a sudden “U” turn is a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ concept.  As one old hillbilly said, "We 'er' what we 'er' and unless we work very hard we will remain what we 'er'. 

Paul tells us: "Be not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows he will also reap" (Gal. 6:7).  A man walking across the prison yard passed by an inmate who was sewing a tarp together and said, "Sewing?” to the inmate.  To that the inmate responded, “No "reaping!" As I have gained in maturity, I have learned that if I don't put the tools exactly where they belong when I am finished with the project, I spend a heap of time hunting and I might add being totally frustrated with my neglect. That, too, is reaping. 

In my study of the Word I have learned that Paul was a very organized man.  In his writing we find he presents a principal and then develops the worksheet for implementation.  In Colossians three he gives us a principle "If, notice: "if", you have been raised up with Christ!"  The prerequisite and trigger key, "If".  

"Keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God".  Again I draw your attention to the key word in this phrase:  "keep".  In the words of Pastor Wilkerson we need to recognize the "seeking things above" is not a natural trait of the human mind.  It takes diligence and constant vigil to “KEEP seeking things above”.

Our good friend, Paul gives us a principle in Romans 12 about how to do this.  He wrote: "I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship".  And then the key "And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". (Rom. 12:1-2).

So, be advised the black dog will be nipping at your heels today.  He may even present you with some great opportunities. Caution:  You can take to the bank - "You will reap what you sow!".

Blessings,

Gramps 

Are You Getting Excited?

“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.  But at midnight there was a SHOUT, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet Him.  (Matt. 25:5-6).

Hey Gang:  The Bible refers to the return of the Lord about three times as much as it does His first coming.  Therefore, we take it to the bank that He is coming back! But it is not a popular concept among the rank and file of the world today.  Many, including many church folks, are like the foolish virgin’s there and there is no oil in their lamps.  Jesus Himself said, “When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  (Luke 18:8).

We have two views that might be summed up in the following two statements:  One church leader from southern German said the Rapture is almost taboo in German today. In the 1960’s and 70’s it was often spoken about and folks even prayed that the Lord would return.

 The second view was presented by Dr, Don Carlson, a well-known American Bible teacher who said, “I am reckoning with the return of Jesus during my lifetime.”  Such statements tend to be received with a jaundiced eye as a ‘pie in the sky statement’ by growing numbers of people today.

After all, it has been prophesied since Jesus left that He would return. First Century Believers believed that.  Paul even believed that, in his early ministry years.  But that does not take away the simple fact that Jesus’ statement was right on.’  The Apostles were avid teachers to the early church that they should continue to look for the return of Christ as any moment.  That is why they greeted each other with “Maranatha’ that means “Our Lord Cometh”.

The Apostle Peter told the members of the Church that they should be characterized by ‘holy conversation and godliness’.  “Looking for an hastening the coming of the day of , because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:12).

Notice, we are told not just to expect the coming of the Lord, but to hasten towards it.  John MacArthur put this into perspective when he wrote, ‘To hasten towards means to long for a certain things to happen’.  Is there such a longing in our world today?  How far have we really fallen from the biblical command to hasten the coming of the Lord?

The church is like a ship that is being tossed ‘hither and yon’ while moving further from the safety of the harbor.  Dr. Robert Fischer wrote, “Thy kingdom come! Faith that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead has become an un-preached and un-believed article of faith.”

Has the enemy robbed the church of its hope of Jesus’ return?  Has this theme been placed in the closet for so long that there is not even the desire to hear of it?  In this day of affluence, do we even desire that the Lord comes again?  Are we not more like the unfaithful servant than the faithful one described in Luke 12:42-48?

However, the picture becomes more clear that all of the signs of the Bible are rapidly converging into one very clear mosaic. (Have you read a paper or listened to the news lately?)  This also includes the ever-expanding evilness that draws those who are not up to speed biblically about what Jesus meant when He said, “Do not be deceived”.  And how do we do that?  By increasing our dependence on the Lord God Almighty though time in our prayer chamber and by keeping our nose glued to His Word.  

Blessings,  

Gramps

Zing! Opportunity Missed!

Peter said, “To sum it up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might receive a blessing” (1 Peter 32:8-9). 

Hey Gang, I have said it before, and am sure I have written it in past Gramps Morning Messages - I like to cut the grass!  Yes, I know that sounds rather weird, but you see my mower is very noisy and I can sing at the top of my capacity and no one will hear me.  And how many know that when we bellow it out at the top of our lungs to the Lord, there is a sense of comfort and peace that fills the heart. 

I always begin with the Kermit Christian Anthem that I learned as a little twerp, ‘Jesus loves me this I know’.  I don’t recall how I learned this reassuring song but I suspect it was my Grandma,  who lived with us during those formative years.  She had no inhibitions about bellowing out to the Lord and anyone within ear-shot, words of praise and worship that came from the depths of her heart.  I recollect that she did not have a harmonious or melodic voice, but she certainly had an angelic voice that filled the air with her praise to her Lord.

How I wish Jesus Loves me this I know was the national anthem for our nation.  IK suspect if every child began their school day by singing Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. 

Hey, you moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas who have ankle bitters in your home, be a seed-planter and fill the air with words the dig deep into the heart of a child.  I have left instruction that three songs that have impacted my life are be sung at my funeral.  My anthem song, Jesus Loves Me this I know, This Little Light of Mine, I am going to let it shine and Lord,  Prepare Me to be A Sanctuary.

When God placed the “Go for it” sign on the Village Property and we were in the building stage of our first house, I thought we would have six months to prepare for the coming days when the kids would begin to arrive.  But He had a far different plan in mind.  A dear lady, who happened to be a Juvenile & Family Court Judge, and an avowed grandmother called and said, We have kids who desperately need help right now! Can you do anything?

What transpired in the next thirty days can only be placed in the miracle file – God provided all we would need, band-aided it together and the Eagle Boys Village Camp provided a shirt-tail to hang on to for more than ninety kids.  We certainly did not have any of the conveniences of the modern camps but we had all we needed  to give the kids what they wanted the most, someone to love them and walk with them through the valleys they were dealing with in their lives. 

And as I look back on those early camps, I firmly believe the Word of God was planted in the heads and hearts of every child who found his or her way to the camps through the words, Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.  We did not have them long enough to spend much times planting words from the Word, but God took the seeds that were planted through Scripture songs that penetrated deep into the souls of each child.

One burly young lad let me know he did not believe in that stuff and wanted no part of it.  I agreed with him and said, just sit quietly and, if necessary, plug your ears.  A few days into the program I happened to be walking through the camp and heard someone singing- it was that young lad! 

So, my message to you this day: turn to Galatians chapter six and pay special attention to verse seven, “Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” What are you sowing?

Blessings,

Gramps    

 

P.S. In seed planting, preaching is not an essential ingredient, what you model and do is!

Is THe Story of God's Love for His Chosen People Still Alive?

“Look among the nations!  Observe! “Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days – You would not believe if you were told” (Habakkuk 1:5). 

Hey Gang:  If I asked you to choose the most profound thing that has happened in the 20^th century, which would you choose.  World War One? World War Two?  Perhaps the great depression or the discovery of nuclear power?  The Space Program has been very profound as has going to the moon, and recently the first landing of a space vehicle on Mars.  No question, the collapse of Russia and Europe were profound, as has been the resurgence of Islam.

All very significant! But, from the Biblical perspective, these all pale when compared to what happened May 14, 1948- the re-establishment of Israel. This, after nearly 2000 years of being exiled, and the beginning of a process called “Aliyah” -the regathering home of God’s children of the diaspora (four corners of the earth from which God has scattered them).

The fulfillment of Isaiah 43:5-7 is truly alive in the four corners of the earth: “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west.  I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’ and to the south, ‘do not hold them back.’  Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth.  Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” 

As I look back over my 85 years of walking this earth, there are mega memories.  Memories are like any experience you might have been blessed to experience.  Some rate in the “out of sight” category, some “good”, and some - you wish had never happened.  But the ones that seem to work their way to the top of the ‘blessing list’ are those where we impacted the life of another.

There is no question that on the top rung of the blessing ladder was God allowing my bride and I be the legs to build the Eagle Village.  As we stood on the platform on the 50^th anniversary of the Village, it was like seeing fifty years of your life in front of you.  So many lives that have been impacted by the many people who have given of piece of their lives and talents to reach out to hurting and lonely people.

But, there is a close second rung that surfaces nearly every day, as I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.   We were privileged to volunteer for an agency called Operation Exodus, whose whole mission was providing a pathway home - to Israel - for Jews of the diaspora, from the four points of the world.   While there, we were privileged to help raise the needed funds to provide for a ship that sailed between Kiev Russia and Haifa Israel and could take 500 people at a time.  

God said, “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your land.” ”You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be up your God” (Ezek. 36:24 & 28).   When I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I pray for the thousands of Olim who made Aliyah during those days we were blessed to be a part of God’s fishermen.

God said to Abram said, “…those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed”.  (Gen. 12:1-3).  What joy there is in knowing that we played a tiny part of bringing the sheep home. 

The Psalmist said, “Pray for the peace pf Jerusalem so that you may be blessed.” (122:1).

Blessings,

Gramps           

When Does and Enemy Become a Friend?

Jesus said, "A man was walking down Fifth and Main and a hood came out of the shadows and beat the tar out of him, leaving him robbed and near dead.  As he lay in the allay an occupant of the Pent House in the elite office complex passed by and turned his eyes away as he hustled by.  Soon the local clergyman from the large cathedral on the corner also turned passed by and away and cut and run.  But at that moment the trash hauler arrived to clean out the garbage cans and saw the man and immediately dropped his garbage cans and went to his aid”.  (Turn to Luke 10:30-37 and read what Jesus really said!!)

Hey gang:   The new pastor was scheduled to arrive at the beautiful church on the top of the hill.  As the hour of coming together approached, the cars were nearing the church when they passed by a beggar sitting along the road in battered clothing with a sign, “HELP”.  As the morning service began there was an excitement in the air for his was the Sunday when the new pastor would be introduced and take over the headship of the church. 

The moment had come, the chief elder began to introduce the new pastor when the beggar who all passed by walked in and up the isle and on to the pulpit where he removed the tattered clothing, the beard.  A deathly silence filled the sanctuary.  Very few words were spoken that morning on the new Pastor’s first Sunday, but the Spirit of God filled the Temple, as people left the sanctuary with a humbleness that had not been seen there in many years.    

A high schooler was on his way home from school when a student in front of him dropped his books all over the sidewalk.  This was before the back-pack era.  Some students walked on by, but he stopped and helped the lad.  As they walked together to the boy’s home, they learned they had many things in common and became close friends.

 Later, the lad told his new friend the reason he had so much stuff that day, when he dropped it all over the sidewalk, was that he had decided- that very day he was going to end his life because he did not have a friend in the world; he had cleaned out his locker.  His life changed that day, when another lad reached out and touched him and said, “Here, let me carry some of your load”. 

It was an Old-Line Presbyterian Church, pastored by an evangelical pastor by the name of Pastor Brown.  If you know anything about old-line Presbyterian Churches, you know they can be very stiff and correct etiquette and form.  Pastor Brown had just begun his message when a young man, in dirty, cut off shorts, tie-dyed shirt, and bare foot, came in through the door of the sanctuary and began walking up the aisle, looking for a place to sit down.

 Finding none, he sat down on the floor by the first row.  A murmur filled the Sanctuary, but silence followed, as an elderly member of the congregation got up from his seat- with cane in hand- began up the aisle.  The people thought, “Now, we will have justice!”  But when the elderly man reached the young lad, he dropped his cane and with great effort sat down beside him. Pastor Brown’s comment, “Today, you will not remember what I have said this morning, but you will remember - forever - the sermon our brother preached!

Three stories, each very different but, really the same. It is called sacrificial giving. Luke wrote, “Give, and it will be given to you.  They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together and running over.”  Now, notice Luke’s next words: “For by your standard of measure it will measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).  Now, if that does not send joy through your heart, you had best get your thumper checker.

We do not have a clue what trials and tribulations those who cross our path are going through - and that really does not matter.  God said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18).  Why?  Because we were designed to be communal in nature and crave the recognition and fellowship of others.  I do not know about you, but I certainly feel the need to be “connected”.

So, friends and neighbors, never be intimidated into being anyone other than the person God wants you to be. Take every opportunity to be a seed planter of “God’s love”.

Blessings,

Gramps

Is the World Speeding-Up or Am I Just Getting SLower?

“But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase” (Daniel 12:4).

Hey Gang:  Have you noticed how almost everything in life seems to be accelerating?  There is no question knowledge has exploded!  We are traveling faster than we ever have before.  I love the memories of watching for the horse drawn milk, ice and good humor wagons that visited our street several times a week.  It was the high point of my day to walk beside the delivery wagons as they traversed down our street.

For thousands of years the mode of travel centered on a four-legged animal, called a horse.  And then one day, in the early 1900’s two profound things happened, the Ford Motor Company produced the first Model T automobile and they did it with the first assembly line production system.  The second, the Wright brothers in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina conquered space by flying the first aircraft.  

Fall of 2018 a lunar module was landed on planet mars with anticipation of one day sending a man to follow the lunar module.  I think I will pass on that trip. 

The Bible teaches that the acceleration of life, which we are experiencing, will be a sign of the end times - a sign that will signal the soon return of the Lord.  Notice in the morning Scripture, God tells Daniel that one of the signs of the end times will be the increase of knowledge and travel.  Today the increase in knowledge is moving so rapidly that recording of that progress could not be done without the tremendous increases of the computer age.

Also note that God told Daniel: “Keep this prophecy a secret…seal it up so that will not be understood until the end times when travel and education shall vastly be increased”.   It was believed by many that when the car and plane came into being, it was a definite sign that within the near future Jesus would come again to collect His children.

The same concept of increased acceleration is also found in the New Testament.  When Jesus shared some of the signs of the end times with the disciples, He mentioned a variety of things that must happen in the spiritual, natural, societal and world relationships before He would return again.  He referred to them as “birth pangs”.

Any mother knows precisely what Jesus meant by “birth pangs”.  As the child nears that time of arrival, two things begin to happen- the pains are more severe and more rapid.  It is said, if men had to endure such pain to bring a child into the world, there would be far less people in the world.   

Now hear this, one has-to-be totally deaf, blind and have their head buried deep in the sand to not to see the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophesy.  We also have the assurance that if God said it, you can take it to the bank.  Sooo, are we just around the corner from God saying to Son, “Go for it, bring Your children home!   Perhaps a better question this morning is “Are you ready?”

Blessings,

Gramps

In answer to the question “Is the world speeding up or am I getting slower?” The answer is “Yes!”

Are You Looking Forward to Heaven?

“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

Hey Gang:  Can we start this morning message with a gigantic, “Whoopie?” When I was a little squeezer my dear saintly grandmother lived with us.  She did needle-point and sewed beautiful pictures on towels. And, while sewing, she also sowed the seeds of my future salvation.  Once she made a statement that I did not understand; she said, “She was homesick for heaven”. 

I didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.  What is this leaving the luxury of living with my family to going to some unknown place she knew nothing about.  I was very young at that time and had no serious dreams of what I wanted to accomplish in my life.  Today that is a malady among a very large percentage of kids in college.  Many do not have a clue what the path will look like when they walk the stage in cap and gown and hear, “You completed the challenge, now go and do something with it.”

I fear that many, sadly, a very many, would not have had a clue what my Gram meant, “I am homesick for heaven”.  In my 85 years of endurance on this planet God has sent a multitude of kids across my path. I put them into two categories: The first I call the ‘empty-eye syndrome’ which consist of those who do not have clue what this day holds for them. 

There is a saying that one percent of the people of the decide what will happen; three percent will make things happen; the remaining 96 percent spend their lives wondering what happened!.”  I have often been asked, how do you know when it is time to send the kids out the door.  My answer, “When I can look into their eyes and see light.”

But getting back to Gram’s comment, “I am looking forward to heaven”, now that I am in that Golden Years bracket, I am beginning to understand what she meant.  The years have a way of increasing our tears as we see life-long friends go to be with the Lord and we move from that stage in our lives of making things happen to wondering what is happening.  

When you notice a person who has just been crying, you can look into their eyes and see traces of tears.  When we love Christ, the day will come when even these traces will be gone.  They won’t just evaporate- God will wipe them from our eyes! (Revelation 21:4).

 Jesus said, “There will be no tears of sorrow” in heaven. I think tears of joy as we look into the face of Jesus and see the nail prints of that day He died on a hideous cross to set me free from my bondages of sins.  How tragically sad that so many do not have the peace that passes all understanding and knowing our name is written in the Lamb’s Book Of Life. And, one day will hear Him, say, “Well done, faithful servant, enter into the place I have prepared for you. (Matthew 24).

 

So,  my friends, I know I am writing to the choir, but when you are up to your armpits in alligators and your focus is on the here and now, it is then you need to take a  minute and remember Jesus said and what awaits us in His Kingdom! Can you day “Whoopie?”

Blessings,

Gramps